Spring structure for mattresses and the like



Oct. 8, 1935. A. H. OLSOIIN 2 SPRING STRUCTURE FOR MATTRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed Novf29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet i RE 6W; 2%? iii @FYP 0st. 8, 1935. OLSON 2,016,872

SPRING. STRUCTURE FOR MATTRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 PATENT OFFICE SPRING STRUCTURE FOR MATTRESSES AND THE LIKE Alex H. Olson, Evanston, 111., assignor to Joseph W. Droll, Chicago, 111.

Application November 29, 1933, Serial No. 700,189

4 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in spring structures for mattresses and the like.

One object of the invention is to improve spring structures of the type in which the springs are provided with divergent arms betweenthe top and bottom frames of the mattress,'by forming on the springs cross-members to serve as connections between the frame members and to support the padding over the structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spring structure which comprises frame-members formed of wire coils and wire springs having central coils and divergent arms between the coils and the top and bottom frames of the mattress, with integral side-extensions through adjacent frame. members which are locked or connected together so that'the spring action of the coils will be supplemented by the torsional resistance of the side members to the movement of the arms.

Other objects of the invention and the advantages and characteristics of the present'spring structure will appear from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and. are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the'drawings, Figure 1 is a partial plan of a spring structure embodying the invention. Fig. 2

is a similar View on a larger scale, parts of the longitudinal frame members being shown in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3.3 of Fig. 1 and showing the spring portions of the structure slightly compressed. Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective of one of the springs and illustrating a mating spring in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a perspective of a pair of mated springs. Fig. 6 is a perspective of a pair of mated springs embodying a modified form of the invention. Fig. '7 is a horizontal'section through the springs shown in Fig. 6 connected to a pair of helicals.

The invention is exemplified in a spring structure,v comprising a top and a bottom frame, and a series of springs A between the top and bottom frames of the construction hereinafter described. Each frame consists of a series of equidistantly spaced, longitudinally extending wire coils. l0 and a pair of end wire coil members I l. The outer longitudinal members H] are suitably secured to the end members II to form a rectangularmargin and the intermediate longitudinal members l0 have their ends secured or hooked to the end-members II as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

bers The springs A are arranged in rows between the two frames, there being one row between each pair of longitudinal members and between the upper and lower frames. Each row extends from one end of the structure to the other. Each of 5 the springs A is formed of a single strip of spring wire bent to form, a central coil I2, the axis of which is substantially horizontal; upwardly and downwardly extending divergent spring-arms l3 and I4; side members l5 on the upper and lower 10 ends of arms I3, M respectively, which form members to extend through the longitudinal coil members ID of the upper and lower frames respectively; cross-members H which extend substantially at right angles from the upper and 15 lower side-members [5 respectively, are parallel with each other, and extend across and form a tie or connection and support between adjacent longitudinalrmembers l0; and side members l9 which extend approximately at right angles from 20 the cross-members I! respectively, and are parallel to the side members I 5 and arranged so that they extend through the wire coil members that are adjacent to the members through which the side-members l5 extend. Each cross member I! 25 is formed with an offset loop 2! to support the padding of the mattress between the cross-memmembers It] and the divergent arms of the other spring of the mated pair will extend vertically between the next adjacent upper and lower mem- 35 ID. This arrangement results in having the side members of the mated springs overlap in the wire coil members I0 and in having the cross members extend between the members 10. It also results in causing the springs of a mated 40 pair to coact in receiving the imposed load. The end of each side-member IQ, of each spring A is provided with a hook 22 which is adapted to hook around and overlap a cross member I! of the mating spring, so as to stiffen the action of 4.5 the cross-members. The cross-members ll of each spring serve flexibly to connect or tie the longitudinal members I!) together transversely of the structure and also serve tosupport the mattress padding 23 which is usually placed above and below the pring structure inside of the mattress cover.

An important result of providing cross mem-.- bers IT, on the springs is that each spring is connected to the horizontally adjacent frame members 10 so that the side members I5 will connect said frame-members to distribute the load and resist the rotation of side-members I5 in the wire-coil members, and to stiffen or supplement the spring action of the coils i2 and the divergent arms [3, I4.

In assembling the structure, the frame-coils are rotated successively around the contiguous side members i5 and 19 of the springs of a 1ongitudinal' row. The end members ll between the longitudinal coil members [0 are coiled around the oifset loops 2| of the end row of springs. The mated springs A of one row are laterally offset and placed intermediate the mated springs of contiguous rows as shown in Fig, 1 so that the springs will be distributed throughout the structure to avoid continuous portions which are not spring supported. The usual tufts (not shown) will be sewed to the mattress through the spaces between the springs as well understood in the art.

In the form' of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6' and 7, each spring, in lieu of being provided with a coil i2, is provided at its central portion with a pair of oppositely extending longitudinal loops 24 24 These loops permit fiexing of the divergent arms I3 and M which extend from the loops to the side members l5 and also measurably resist longitudinal deflection of the central portions of the arms. In this construction the loops do not interfere with the free insertion of the tufting ties.

In use, when a load is placed in the region over one of the mated pair of springs, there will be deflection of the adjacent longitudinal members NJ produced by the cross-members. The spring actiorr of coils l2 or loops 24 24 and divergent arms l3 and M or I3 and I4" will be supplemented by the torsional resistance of the side members of the springs. The compression of the mattress at the frame-members andthe side members I5, will, through the cross-members i1 exert a cross and vertical deflection of the longitudinally adjacent side members [9. In this manner localized pressure" or load distributed over a wide area of the spring structure this makes it possible to avoid the use of stiff or heavy springs in the manufacture of mattresses. The spring structure yields easily to support, with comfort, the body on" the mattress. All portions of the structure are flexible and evenly spring supported.

v The invention exemplifies a spring structure for a mattress and the like in which individual springs of the cantilever type are interposed between the top and bottom frame members so that the deflecting stresses will be effectively distribnted over awide area to produce a comfortable mattress or rest. The construction exhibited makes it possible to provide a spring structure for a mattress which is light in weight.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the particular details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. While the invention has been described for use in a mattress, it will be understood that it is applicable to springs for supporting mattresses.

l-Iaving thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a spring structureof the character described, the combination of an upper and a lower frame, one of which comprises a horizontal series through a portion of one of the wire coil memof. parallel, equidistantly spaced, wire coil members, and rows of mated pairs of wire springs extending between the two frames and longitudinally of the wire coil members of the one frame, one of the springs of each mated pair comprising a spring element disposed substantially centrally between the two frames, a pair of straight, divergent arms extending one upwardly and the other downwardly from said spring element, means connected to the outer end of one of l the arms for connecting the same to the other frame, a horizontally extending, first side member connected at one end thereof to the outer end ofthe other divergent arm and extending bers of said one frame, a horizontal cross member connected at one end to the other end of said first side member and extending between said one wire coil member and one of the adjacent wire coil members of said one frame, and a hori- 2 zontally' extending, second side member connectedat one end thereof to the other end" of the cross member so that it extends from the cross member in the same direction as said first side. member, and extending through a portion 2' of said one adjacent wire coil member and having a hook at its other end, the other spring of each mating pair being the same in construction as the one spring but arranged in opposite relation and so that the first and second side members 3 thereof lap respectively the second and first side members of said one spring and extend through the same portions of the wire coil members and so that the end of the cross member thereof that is connected to the first side member is hooked Q by the hook on the second member of the one spring and its hook at the end of its second side member is hooked around the end of the cross member of said one spring that is connected to the said other end of the first side member of I said one spring. 7

2 In a spring structure of the character described, the combination of an upper and a lower frame, one of which comprises a horizontal series of parallel, equidistantly spaced, wire coil members, and rows of mated pairs of wire springs extending between the two frames and longitudinally of the wire coil members of the one frame, one of the springs of each mated pair comprising a spring element disposed substantially centrally between the two frames, a pair of straight, divergent arms extending one upwardly and the other downwardly from said spring element, means connected to the outer end of one of the arms for connecting the same to the other frame, a 5 horizontally extending, first side member connected at one end thereof to the outer end of the other divergent arm and extending through a portion of one of the coil members of said one frame, a horizontal cross member connected at 6 one end to the other end of said first side member, and extending between said one wire coil member and one of the adjacent wire coil members of said one frame and having a U-shaped offset in the central portion thereof extending 6 away from said first side member, and a horizontally extending, second side member connected at one end thereof to the other end of the cross member so that it extends from the cross member in the same-direction as said first side, member, 7

so that the first and second side members'ther'eoi' 76 lap respectively the second and first side members of said one spring and extend through the same portions of the wire coil members and so that the U-shaped offset of the cross member thereof projects in the opposite direction from the offset of the cross member of the one spring.

3. In a spring structure of the character described, the combination of an upper frame comprising a horizontal series of parallel, equidistantly spaced, wire coil members, a lower frame also comprising a horizontal series of parallel, equidistantly spaced, wire coil members and arranged so that the members thereof are vertically aligned with wire coil members of the upper frame, and rows of mated pairs of wire springs extending between the two frames and longitudinally of the wire coil members, one of the springs of each mated pair comprising a spring element disposed substantially centrally between the two frames, a pair of straight, divergent arms extending one upwardly and the other downwardly from said spring element, a pair of parallel, horizontally extending, laterally spaced side members with a cross member therebetween, carried by the one arm and arranged so that the side members extend through portions of two adjacent wire coil members of the upper frame and the cross member extends between said portions, and a second pair of parallel, laterally spaced, side members with a cross member therebetween, carried by the other arm and arranged so that the side members extend through portions of the two wire coil members of the lower frame that are directly beneath said two'wire coil members of the upper frame and so that the cross member extends between such two wire coil members of the lower frame, the other spring of each mated pair being the same in construction as the one spring but arranged in opposite relation and so that the side members carried by the upper arm lap the upper side members of the one spring and extend through the same portions of the two wire coil members in the upper frame and the side members carried by the lower or downwardly extending arm lap the lower side members of the one spring and extend through the same portions of the two wire coil springs of the lower frame.

4. In a spring structure of the character described, the combination of an upper frame comprising a horizontal series of parallel, equidistantly spaced, wire coil members, a lower frame also comprising a horizontal series of parallel, 5 equidistantly spaced, wire coil members and arranged so that the members thereof are verti-- cally aligned with wire coil members of the upper frame, rows of mated pairs of wire springs extending between the two frames and longitudinally of the wire coil members, one of the springs of each mated pair comprising a spring element disposed substantially centrally between the two frames, a pair of straight, divergent arms extending one upwardly and the other downwardly from said spring element, a pair of parallel, horizontally extending, laterally spaced side members with a cross member therebetween, carried by the one arm and arranged so that the side members extend through portions of two adjacent wire coil members of the upper frame and the cross member extends between said portions, and a second pair of parallel laterally spaced, side members with a cross member therebetween, carried by the other arm and arranged so that the side members extend through portions of the two wire coil members of the lower frame that are directly beneath said two wire coil members of the upper frame and so that the cross member extends between such two wire coil members of the lower frame, the other spring of each mated pair being the same in construction as the one spring but arranged in opposite relation and so that the side members carried by the upper arm lap the upper side members of the one spring and extend through the same portions of the two wire coil members in the upper frame and the side members carried by the lower or downwardly extending arm lap the lower side members of the one spring and extend through the same portions of the two wire coil springs of the lower frame, and hooks on the free ends of certain of the upper and lower side members of each pair of mated springs extending around the adjacent cross members and serving to hold the springs in connected relation.

ALEX H. OLSON. 

